A Fermatean Fuzzy Decision Support Framework for Wireless Technology Selection in Disaster Management

Abstract

Wireless technologies increasingly enable effective communication in disaster management. This study proposes a novel hybrid framework for selecting wireless technologies in disaster management. The proposed approach is called the Fermatean fuzzy (FF)–Maclaurin–Ranking Comparison Method (RANCOM)–Entropy–Alternative Ranking Using Two-Step Logarithmic Normalization (ARLON) hybrid method. FF sets capture the ambiguity and vagueness in experts' judgments. At the same time, RANCOM and Entropy determine the subjective and objective importance of the evaluation criteria, respectively. The ARLON method ranks wireless technologies based on performance. Furthermore, the Maclaurin-based aggregation operator combines expert evaluations. The study demonstrates the application through a case study in Türkiye, focusing on wireless technology selection to enhance disaster management capabilities following recent major earthquakes. A panel of nine experts with extensive knowledge of disaster management and wireless communication technologies participated in the evaluation process. The assessment considered twelve performance criteria and eight wireless technology alternatives. The results indicate that 5G RedCap is the most suitable wireless technology for the case study. In addition, the most important criterion was "ease of use/setup”. Finally, sensitivity and comparative analyses confirm the proposed framework's robustness and reliability.